The Answer Makes a Difference

Text: Luke 9:20
He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’ (NRSV)

How you answer Jesus’ question in our text for today makes a huge difference.  This is because, whatever our belief about Jesus is, shapes who we become and how we live out what John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, called practical theology.  Practical theology is the outward practice of what we believe.

You see, our faith does nothing to change the truth of who Jesus is.  No matter what we choose to believe about Jesus, Jesus is still who he is.  Just because we believe something different does not make it so.   But our belief DOES changes who WE are.  

What we believe—what we have faith in—has the amazing power to change the way we see the world.  What we believe—what we have faith in—has the amazing power to change what we think is of primary importance.  What we believe—what we have faith in—has the power to radically shift the way we live our lives.  

Because of this, two people who have two different understanding of who Jesus is, can claim to believe in God through Jesus Christ and yet, live their lives in vastly different ways.  Their beliefs do not change the reality of who Jesus is but, their beliefs change the reality of who they are.
This is why the question that Jesus askes in today’s text is so extremely important to us.  How we answer Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am” contains the power to transform us.  

The scary thing is, if we answer the question wrong, at best, who we become has the potential to keep us from living a life of unrestrained joy in the presence of God and, at worst, who we become has the potential to place us in direct opposition to God.

How we answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is at the very heart of Christianity.  So, how do you answer that question?  Are you with the “crowds” from yesterday’s devotion and think of Jesus as just a moral teacher or a good man?  Or, are you with Peter boldly announcing that Jesus is “The Messiah of God?”  It really does make a difference in your life.

Pray with me:

God of love and God of life mold me and make me in the image of your Son whom I know to be the messiah the savior of the world.  AMEN.

No Comments